Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Brian & Jessie Jessie and I met back in August of 1983 and decided to make it officially a relationship on September 1, 1983. I was 19 and Jessie was 18 and we have been together for 21 years this coming September of 2004. We have been through so much together, good and bad but, our relationship has lasted longer than most pepople we know who have been in relationships,...both gay and straight. We have recently bought our first home together which we have worked very hard to be able to do. And we are in Bridgeport, CT (which has the higest property taxes in the nation)...we have two cars and two dogs (L.B. & Pudgie) which also have to be kept licensed and so on....we have all the same responsibilities of any married couple but we would like to make them "legal" as well as adding the benifits that married heterosexual couples take for granted every day. We are currently paying almost double the taxes that we would have to if we could file joint tax returns,...state and federal. I am currently self-employed and just turned 40 and because I cannot be added to Jessie's employee insurance,...I am paying almost $500 monthly for private health insurance and that doesn't cover dental. There are many other issues that everyone is aware of so, I won't go on....We are very much in LOVE and I know I couldn't imagine life without my lover, partner, and most of all,....MY BEST FIREND.....Jessie.

No comments:

Post a Comment

What Is Project 1138?

Project 1138 is designed to increase public awareness of the 1,138 federal marital benefits and protections denied to same-sex couples as the result of marriage inequality.How Did It Originate?

On September 5, 1996, Congressman Henry Hyde sent a request to the General Accounting Office of the United States. In it, he asked how many federal benefits were contingent on marital status. In response, the GAO identified 1,049 federal laws in which martial status applied. Click here to see the January 31, 1997 letter to Henry Hyde

In 2004, Senator Bill Frist asked the GAO to update this number. Due to changes in laws over the previous seven years, the number of federal benefits had increased to 1,138. Click here to see the 1138 benefits

National Same-Sex Commitment Ceremony

On May 2, 2010 Equality Forum welcomed same sex-couples to reaffirm their relationships at a commitment ceremony at SundayOUT! at The Piazza. The same-sex commitment ceremony creates awareness of the 1,138 federal marital benefits denied same-sex couples, including denying those legally married in Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Washington, D.C.

Take Action Now

Project 1138 is calling on you and your loved ones to take action by asking your elected officials to repeal DOMA. You can do so by following these two steps below. The links below will route you to your Congressperson’s contact page.

STEP TWO:In the body section of the message, you are welcome to write your own message, but consider using this one below. Simply copy and paste into the main part of the message:

I'm writing you about something that is very important to me – marriage equality.

Unfortunately, most states in this country still do not allow lesbian and gay couples the right to marry and receive the same benefits as the rest of America. Couples who have made a personal commitment to each other deserve the cultural respect, social support, and legal responsibilities that come with marriage.

That's why I'm asking you, as my representative in Congress, to support the Respect for Marriage Act and repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.

Equality Forum

Equality Forum is a national and international GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus. Equality Forum coordinates GLBT History Month, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents the largest annual national and international GLBT civil rights summit.